Private Journey

Transport

Accommodation

On this tour we use good value hotels; they are small, friendly establishments, colonial or modern in style with well-equipped rooms, private bathroom and heating. You spend 6 nights under canvas.

Meals

Breakfast daily, lunch day 4, full board days 5-7, 14-17.

Guides

We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by the latter on their return.

Not included in the journey price

• Tips and gratuities • Meals other than specified.
• International flights to Latin America.
• Airport taxes, when not included in the ticket
• Optional excursions

Currency

The unit of currency in Peru is the sol, in Bolivia it is the Bolivian peso.

Daily spend

It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$35 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.

How to take it

Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds.

We recommend that additionally you take a reasonable quantity of US dollars cash (no more than is covered by your insurance), which you can exchange into local currency, and possibly some travellers’ cheques, though these are gradually falling out of use (American Express are the most widely accepted). Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused. You can take sterling, but the exchange rate is not always competitive or even available, restricting the number of places where you can change money.

Tipping

Tips are expected and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.
Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 - 12% in restaurants.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential. Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.

Airport taxes

If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax and taxes on internal flights are usually included in the ticket.

Journey grade

This holiday is suitable for all able-bodied, fit visitors, including families with reasonably strong older children. Experience of outdoor activities including hiking or hill walking is an advantage.

The Salkantay and Choro Trails are moderately challenging, including steep climbs at high altitude, reaching over 4,200m. You should be able to walk over undulating rocky terrain foe several hours.

Climate

Lima is covered in a dull grey mist for much of the year. It almost never rains in Lima, and temperatures are moderate.

In the highlands (Cusco, Puno, La Paz), June to August is the dry season: it can be very cold at night, but days are usually extremely clear with sun. November to March are the wettest months of the year – note that rains tend to be in short, heavy bursts, rather than continual showers, with rains clearing towards the end of April. May, September and October are less predictable, with both rainy and sunny spells.

Nights are cold throughout the year at altitude.

Altitude

Your stay in Cusco, Puno and La Paz is at high altitude (3,500-4,000m). A small minority of visitors may suffer temporarily from altitude sickness. Symptoms vary; most common are mild headaches, slight nausea and breathlessness. If you don’t recover in a day or two speak to our representatives; in very rare instances it is necessary to descend to lower altitudes. Most people are unaffected and if you drink plenty of water and allow your body to acclimatise (don’t exert yourself or drink alcohol) in the first couple of days after arrival, you will
minimise your chances of suffering any symptoms.

Clothing and special equipment

For day-to-day wear you should go prepared to encounter all seasons. Both warm clothing and a sun hat are essential at altitude; a light fleece jacket and a Gore-Tex outer shell makes a good combination. Trousers, skirt or shorts made from light, quick-drying synthetic materials work well. If you plan to eat in smart restaurants, although clothing is not formal (no need for jacket and tie), something quite smart would be appropriate. Strong, comfortable footwear is essential.

For the camping on the Salkantay trek sleeping bags are provided. However for the camping on the Choro trek you will need to bring your own (minimum 3 season) or rent a sleeping bag locally, our team on the ground will help with this. You may wish to bring your own sleeping bag liner.

For the treks you should bring a back pack to carry your personal items. Spare clothing and your sleeping bag will be carried by mules and porters. There are luggage restrictions in place for the train back from Machu Picchu, so you should ensure that your trekking kit does not exceed 10kg.
Bring comfortable and adequate clothing to protect you from cold (and possibly wet) weather.

We recommend you layer with synthetic clothing as synthetic fabrics are the most effective barriers against the cold. We discourage the use of cotton garments in cold or wet mountain conditions. The innermost layer should be long underwear. The middle layer can be a synthetic turtleneck or woollen shirt, and shorts or trousers. The outermost layer should be a synthetic or down jacket, and/or a good quality Gore-Tex wind/rain parka and over-trousers.
You will also need a bag in which to store the gear you aren’t taking on the trek. You might want to consider bringing trekking poles.

For further details about what to bring on treks see our Briefing Dossier.

Camping equipment is provided, including sleeping mats and 2-man tents.

Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very important and hard to come by in South America.

Vaccinations

Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements.

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the Peruvian and Bolivian Consulates.

APIS and ESTA - important flight information:

ESTA - if flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your application to ESTA online.
This costs $14 per person. This must be done by you personally.
Passports must also be machine-readable (MRP). Avoid locking suitcases if transiting the USA, as their customs authorities retain the right to break into them.

APIS - Many countries now oblige airlines to provide additional information about passengers prior to the flight departure. This Advance Passenger Information (APIS) must be supplied to us promptly in order to issue tickets and avoid fare increases. We will provide the airlines with the relevant details if we are booking your international flights. If the information is not provided you may be denied boarding.

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